Opinion Piece: The Worst of 2014 in Esports
Every year, I like to highlight the worst aspects of esports in my alternate awards. These awards serve as a counter to the usual end-of-year lists that are full of positivity. I’ve already given out one set of awards, recognizing the Fnatic Counter-Strike team and Team SoloMid fanboys for their not-so-great achievements. But there are even more moments from this year that deserve recognition for being absolutely terrible. Congratulations!
Most Pointless E-Drama Award
2011: Naniwa Probe Rush
2012: Not listed
2013: Not listed
DeMuslim Vs Major
It’s safe to say that the attempt at manufactured drama between DeMuslim and Major was a complete flop. The timing, just before April Fool’s Day, made it seem like an inside joke gone wrong. But in reality, it was one player reaching his breaking point and making a hilariously unintentional threat.
Juan Carlos “MajOr” Tena Lopez is notorious for pushing his professional players to their limits behind the scenes. From asking dumb questions at 4am to showing no gratitude when help is offered, he has a long list of stories that paint him in a negative light. DeMuslim found himself in one of these stories when Lopez went on a rant about him on stream. He called DeMuslim cocky, arrogant, irrelevant, and a bad player. DeMuslim took offense and responded with one of the wildest threats ever seen in esports.
Benjamin James Baker: If I see you, In real life, I’m gonna beat the shit out of you, ROFL, try, just try, and you’ll see what will happen, GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU, WITH MY DICK, ON YOUR FACE
Although the threat should have diffused the situation with laughter, Lopez demanded an apology from Evil Geniuses and took his grievance to the Starcraft subreddit when he didn’t receive it. He even claimed to fear for his life because of DeMuslim’s genitals. In the end, this manufactured drama only showcased how pathetic some people in esports can be.
Worst Event of the Year
2010: Gamersject
2011: ESWC
2012: Northcon
2013: HoN World Tour Finals
ESWC
Working as an esports journalist can feel like descending into Hell, with each event worse than the last. And at the center of this esports Hell is the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC). This event is a complete affront to everything esports should stand for. From taking away free water from the media to the lack of a player’s area and forced player press conferences, ESWC seems to do everything wrong. They even fail to showcase important games on their giant stage, instead distracting everyone with dancing girls. It’s a World Cup for gaming that lacks the grandeur of its namesake and the competence of UEFA.
ESWC 2014 was no different. The event was poorly organized and left both talent and participants confused. CSGO casters Semmler and Anders were thrown on air without prior notice, risking their careers. The scheduling and decisions made throughout the event were questionable, leaving everyone wondering what was going on.
Let’s not forget about Julia “Miss Rage” Kreuzer, who was hired as a host but was suddenly asked to commentate on CSGO, something she had never done before. The broadcast was uncomfortable and received harsh criticism from the community. ESWC failed to provide a positive experience for both talent and participants.
Wasted Opportunity of the Year
2010: Robert “TORNADOTONI” Radosevic
2011: Heroes of Newerth
2012: Not listed
2013: Blizzard’s WCS
ESGN
The rise and fall of ESGN is one of the greatest stories in esports. With financial backing from Sapinda, the extravagant spending of this company seemed endless. Private chartered flights, free bars, and glamorous business meetings made it seem like they had it all. But when Sapinda pulled the plug on their funding, ESGN crumbled under financial pressure.
As the money ran out, employees were left without pay and many were forced to find other jobs. The extravagant studio was shut down, leaving many in a dire situation. ESGN serves as a reminder that success in esports cannot simply be bought and that our industry still has a long way to go.
Most Shameless Cash Grab
Harold Goldberg: The League of Legends Experience
Harold Goldberg’s article about League of Legends in Playboy caused quite a stir in the community. It brought attention to esports and was seen as a victory. However, many overlooked the fact that Playboy’s interest was due to the legitimacy of esports, not the other way around. But Goldberg took advantage of the attention and decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund an interactive digital comic book.
The Kickstarter campaign aimed to raise $108,000, offering reward tiers that included interviews with players and Skype sessions with Goldberg. The campaign ultimately fell short, only raising $6,802. This failure should serve as a reminder that we should be supporting those who have been part of esports from the beginning, rather than trying to impress “legitimate” individuals.
In conclusion, 2014 had its fair share of terrible moments in esports. From manufactured drama and poorly organized events to wasted opportunities and shameless cash grabs, these are the aspects that we need to address and improve upon as we move forward.
esports, worst of esports, 2014, awards, drama, ESWC, ESGN, cash grab